Stan Van Gundy is now using radio appearances to float the idea that Derrick Rose may leave Chicago

The Stan Van Gundy radio tour rolled on with an appearance on AM-740’s “The Game” in Orlando. But this appearance unlike those other appearances. Instead of ripping the Magic, Van Gundy decided to look in his crystal ball for the future of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

No, he didn’t give a prediction on when Rose would come back from his ACL injury. And no, he didn’t give a prediction on if Rose will be the same player as he was pre-injury. But what he did provide is his belief that if Chicago does not add another star to play with Rose, he may very well leave Chicago for greener pastures.

“I think the interesting one coming up in the future is going to be Derrick Rose,” Van Gundy said on AM-740’s “The Game” in Orlando. “I think Derrick Rose is a great, great representative of our league, and he’s a great player. And he’s got good players around him, very good players around him, but if (the Bulls) can’t get another star there for him is he eventually going to look around and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got to work this out on my own and I’ve got to find somehow to get somewhere else so that I will have a chance to play with another star.’ The league has changed.”

Rose signed a five-year deal worth over $90 million before last season and seems to be as loyal as they come. But Van Gundy argues that the league has changed and stars no longer care about having their own team. They just want to win.

“The league has changed,” Van Gundy said. “It used to be the stars wanted to sort of have their own team, they certainly wanted good players around them, but now everything’s changed. I think it started with the Celtics, bringing (Kevin) Garnett, (Paul) Pierce and (Ray) Allen together and everybody saw that and decided, ‘Look, this is the only way we’re going to win.’

“I think sometimes the players get sort of chastised for that, but if you’re a LeBron James and you’re looking at (the situation) you might want to win it in Cleveland, you might want to lead your own franchise, same with Dwight Howard, but you’re looking around.”

“Chris Paul I think went through the same thing,” Van Gundy said. You’re looking around and you see Boston and you’re saying, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this alone. I got to find a way, somehow, where I can get with a couple of other true stars. Not just good players, but true stars.’

“And so then LeBron goes to Miami and Chris Paul takes off and goes to the Clippers, which isn’t going to be enough for him, I don’t think. And so if you’re Dwight, you’re looking around and saying, ‘I got to get somewhere where there’s more people somehow.’ Either they’ve got to come here, which if you don’t have a way to do that then you’ve got to go somewhere else.”

We’ve said it many times before; the league has changed. It’s all about getting yourself in the best situation for your particular goals. Whether that’s winning or business potential, that’s the reality of the new NBA.